View full sizeLynn Ischay / The Plain DealerCounty executive candidate Matt Dolan says lobbyist Jessica Hart, whom he began dating in 2006 and married earlier this month, lobbied other state legislators, but she "never dealt with me on any of her issues and I didn't take any money from her clients."

CLEVELAND, Ohio — While head of the Ohio House Finance Committee in 2007, Matt Dolan dated a Statehouse lobbyist whose clients wanted a piece of the budget bill he was sponsoring.

But Dolan, now a Republican candidate for Cuyahoga County executive, said Tuesday that his future wife, Jessica Hart, refrained from directly lobbying him, leaving that to a colleague, in an attempt to avoid ethical problems.

"I can't help where my heart fell, and we always knew that if we going to be together in this business that our relationship will come under scrutiny," Dolan said.

His disclosure came after The Plain Dealer reviewed public records showing that Hart registered as a legislative and executive branch lobbyist in 2007 for clients interested in that year's House budget bill.

The relationship also opened Dolan to criticism from his Democratic rival, Ed FitzGerald just days after Dolan exploited a reference to FitzGerald in an ongoing federal investigation of corruption in county government.

Dolan married Hart on Sept. 10, culminating a relationship that he said began in 2006 and progressed slowly.

They began dating before he was named to the powerful House finance position and before Hart, a Democrat, joined a new class of lobbyists hired in 2006 by various firms looking for inroads with new statewide Democrats elected that year.

Dolan said Hart lobbied other legislators, but she "never dealt with me on any of her issues and I didn't take any money from her clients.

"She didn't come into my office as a lobbyist, her partner did -- Dan Helmick," he recalled.

Dolan said he saw no ethical problem in dealing with a partner at his girlfriend's firm on matters that could enrich the firm. He noted that the lobbying firm, Helmick and the firm's clients knew of the relationship.

Outside the office, Dolan said he didn't talk about budget-related matters with Hart, but he said they may have discussed her clients. "I don't recall any conversations about the budget, but I don't want to tell you that she didn't tell me about some exciting things unrelated to the state budget that she was doing for her clients," he said.

Previous Plain Dealer coverage

Dolan said that as his relationship with Hart became more serious in 2007, he sought the advice of Tony Bledsoe, who as legislative inspector general monitors lobbying activity in the state.

Bledsoe, Dolan recalled, advised that the state does not prohibit dating a lobbyist. But Dolan said Bledsoe encouraged him to make the relationship transparent and be extra diligent about reporting lobbyist-legislative gifts, such as dinners.

Bledsoe confirmed Tuesday that Dolan initiated the conversation. He would not disclose details of his conversation with Dolan, but said he has been asked by other legislators about relationships with lobbyists.

"I approach the topic from the perspective that an individual is unlikely to begin a romantic relationship with someone just for the sake of moving a bill," he said. "In reality, every close friendship between a public official and lobbyist raises the same basic concerns about unequal access. At least in the case of the serious romantic relationships, those on Capitol Square and the public are often on notice of the relationship and can take steps to diminish the potential for conflicts of interest."

In October 2007, Hart filed paperwork ending her representation of many of her 2007 clients. She left the firm this year.

Dolan announced his bid for county executive in February, after moving from Geauga County to Chagrin Falls. He has billed himself as the best candidate to bring reform to a corruption-weary county.

FitzGerald, the mayor of Lakewood and an opponent of last November's successful campaign to create a charter government, has been Dolan's chief target.

Most recently, in a fundraising appeal, Dolan describes FitzGerald's link to the corruption investigation as "equally alarming" as last week's indictment of County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora and several other officials.

FitzGerald has not been charged with a crime, and he has not been named in the indictment of Dimora. But prosecutors say that a "Public Official 14," whose description matches that of FitzGerald's, helped close a deal for which Jimmy Dimora was paid a bribe.

Charges filed against Dimora say that in March 2008 the county commissioner telephoned FitzGerald on behalf of businessman William Neiheiser, who wanted to lease Lakewood's ice rink. Neiheiser had phoned the mayor, but FitzGerald had not returned the call.

On Tuesday, FitzGerald accused Dolan of being hypocritical.

"Dolan is holier than thou," FitzGerald said, accusing the Republican of ethical lapses.

He cited the fact that Dolan's campaign is accepting money from his father, Cleveland Indians owner Larry Dolan, who stands to benefit from county decisions involving Gateway sports complex.

He also noted that one of Dolan's political consultants, Brett Buerck, has ties to political scandal. FitzGerald is referring to a federal probe of the political activities of former GOP House Speaker Larry Householder, for whom Buerck worked. After a two-year probe, federal authorities closed the investigation without prosecuting anyone.

Follow Us

cleveland.com is powered by Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and Northeast Ohio Media Group. All rights reserved (About Us).The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Northeast Ohio Media Group LLC.